Printing-press.



N0. 629,9I3. i Patented Aug. l, 1899.

T. M. NORTH.

PRINTING PRESS.

` (Application me@ Dec. 22, 1897.) f {Nn Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 629,9!3. Patented Aug. l, |399.

T. M. NORTH. Y PRINTING PRESS.

(Application tiled. Dec. 22, 1897.) (No Model.) `2 Shasta-Sheet 2.

' mmm: l uw WUI J PH Ill Ima/167%?! f UNITE-n kSfrivrns` fed to the first couple.

couples.

lhrrinrrA @incirca- THOMAS M. NoRfrl-i, or NEw YORK, N. Y., AssieNoR rro ROBERT. non, Tinto: Donn n. MEAD, AND onARLEsW. CARPENTER, or SAME PLACE.

PRiNTiNG-'PRESSQ' s'rncrmcA'rroN farming part ofneaers Patent' 110.629,913, dated August 1, 189e.-

Application nea December 22,1397. sesamo. 663,001. maman.)

have invented certain new and useful Im41 provements in Printing Presses, 'fully described and represented in the following speciiication and the accomlgianying drawings,

forming a part of the same.'

This invention relates to printing machincs in which the printing is effected by two printing-couples each acting toprint on the. same side of a sheet. In such machines as heretofore constructed it has beennsual to have both members of both printing-couples rotate constantly orto have both members of both couples come to a stopwhen' a sheet is The first form of ma-v chine referred to-namely, that in which both members of both couples rotate constantlyis open to the objection that the sheets are presented to the sheet-receiving v.cylinder of the iirst couple when said cylinder isin motion, and therefore there is vgreat liability of inaccurate feeding. .In Vthe second form of machine-namely, that in which both couples come to a stop when the sheetis fed to the 'sheet-receiving cylinder of the first couple-Y the danger of improper feeding is avoided,` but there is a great waste of power in 'stopping and starting'the two heavy printing- The present invention has for object to produce a machine in which two couples are employed to print on the same side of a sheet and in which the impression member of the first couple has its speed varied either by slowing down its movement or bringing it to a full stop in order that the sheet may be fed thereto and to do this'withont stopping the movement by which the other couple effects the printing operations.

. The inventionltherefore includes the ,provision of means by which the impression-cylinder of a printing-press employing two printing-couples print-ing on the sameside of a ing the printing operation`,will be slowed down or brotxght'to a stop while the sheet is being fed thereto, and then will be again driven at full speed to print and deliver the sheet to the 5 5v coperating printing-couple, the sheet being deliveredto the'second couple with its printed side out. .Theinvention also includes mechanism fo gradually accelerating the speed of the sheet- 6o receiving cylinder after the sheet has been fed thereto until it is broughtV up 'to the speed of its cooperating printing member, after which the two `members are driven in unison until the sheet is printed. After the .printing of the sheet the mechanism then acts to slow down the cylinder in orderthat it may receive a fresh'sheet, the printed sheet having been in the meanwhile delivered with its printed side out to the second couple. The particular mechanism shown herein for giving movement to the receiving impressioncylinder is the same as that shown'in greater detail in my application, Serial No. 618,024,

filed January 5, 1897, and therein claimed. 75.`4

It is, however, of course obvious that other meansthan thisparticular mechanism maybe employedfor giving motion tov the receiving impression-cylinder, and I wish it understood thatI do not limit myself in this application to 8o anyspecial form of mechanism for performing this function, nor to a mechanism for giving motion to thelreceiving impression-cylinderl which connects the receiving impression-cylinder with the plate-cylinder.

My invention also includes other features of construction, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. Y In the drawings annexed, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a sectional ele- 9o vation of a press 'containing my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end viewof the press, taken from theleft of Fig.v l. f K l.

Referring to saidV drawings, Ais theframe of the press; B, the feed-board; C, the Vre-i g5` ceiving impression-cylinder, and-.D ia plate vor form cylinder.l 'The plate-cylinder shaft is provided at oneend with ,a gear-wheel.E,l which gears with a pinion F on the driving-A shaft. On each end of the plate-cylinder is roo a toothed segment G, whichgears duringthe time in which the sheetis being printedwith a corresponding segment H on the cylinder C. While the. sheet is being fed, the impression-cylinder stands in the position shown-in Fig. l, being locked therein by a stop I, operated through a rod e from a cam on the cam-shaft e', the rod being shown in Fig. 2. During this position of theimpression-cylinder the surface of the plate-cylinder, which revolves continuously, passes freely by the same without touchingor engaging in any waytherewith. Inordertoprovidefoi-bringing the impression-cylinder into gear with the plate-cylinder, two coupling-levers K L are provided, pivoted to the plate-cylinder, each having a guide-roller which travels in a fixed path-cam M. The cylinder C is provided with two rolls or studs 7c Z, placed between the extremities of the segment H, with which the levers K L are adaptedA to respectively engage, receiving the same in a recess or jaw of appropriate shape, as shown.

The function of the coupling-lever K is by engaging with stud k to rotate the impressioncylinder-from a position of rest until its segment H comes into gear with segment G. The shape and 'position of theA jaw of the coupling-lever K and the shape of thepathcam M are such that Ithe motion thus given to thecylinder C is at first very slight and that it is gradually accelerated until when the two cylinders come into gear they are moving at the same surface speed.

The function of the coupling-lever L is by engaging withstudl to maintain the driving connection between the plate and the impression cylinder after the segments on the two cylinders have passed out of gear and to gradually slow down the impression-cylinder until it reaches a state of rest and is locked therein by the stop I.

The shape and position of the coupling-lever L and the shape of path-cam M are such that the gradual slowing down of the cylinder C is effected.

In order to assist in smoothly' bringing the impression-cylinder to a stop, there are provided a brake-wheel O on the cylinder-shaft and a brake-strap P, of which the ends are attached to lugs on a pivoted cam-actuated lever concealed in Fig. 2 behind brake-Wheel O.

In order to print a second color upon the sheet, a second plate or form cylinder S is provided and a second impression-cylinder T, which latter is geared to the plate-cylinder S and revolves continuously. In order to carry the sheet from the first impressioncylinder to the second impression-cylinder and to present it thereto with its printed side out, transfer-cylinder U is provided,which is equipped with grippers which engage the sheet after it is printed upon the impressioncylinder C and carry and' deliver it to the impression-cylinder T. This -second impression-cylinder, in coperation with the platecylinder S, causes the sheet to be again printed on the same side as before. After being printed the sheet is taken from the second impression-cylinder by a delivery-Cylinder X and is stripped therefrom and carried away by the delivery V.

To raise the impression-cylinder T out of contact with the ink-plates on plate-cylinder S, the cylinder T is mounted in verticallysliding journal-boxes moved downward at the proper time by the cam-actuated togglelevers Y. The lower levers of each pair of toggles are mounted on a shaft u4,which finds its bearing in a pair of cross-bars 10, which are connected to vertical rods 11, which pass through the journal-boxes. The shaft a4 is rocked by means of an arm a5, this arm being connected toarod u6,which extends down and is actuated bya cam located on the auxiliary shaft e. The cylinder is moved upward. by means of springs u', which surround the rods 1l and act against collars 13,which are mounted on said rods. This upward move- 'ment also brings the grippers on cylinder T into position to take the sheet from transfercylinder U.

The mechanism just described isa common form of throw-off mechanism and is eective for the purpose; but the cylinder may be controlled by any other suitable or well-known form of throw-off mechanism.

Instead of raising and lowering the cylinder T by means of a throw-off mechanism this cylinder may be mounted in fixed bearings. In this case the ink-plates on the cylinder S will be so mounted as to be nearer the aXis of the cylinder than the form-carrying surface, and means will be provided for moving the form-rollers to and away from said plates as the cylinder revolves. It is of course obviousl how the ink-plates may be mounted, and the mechanism for controlling the form-rollers may be similar in construc- IOO tion to that shown in lmy application, Serial No. 698,847, filed December 10, 1898. Again, when the cylinder T is mountediu fixed bearings the ink-distributing plates on the cylinder S may, if desired, be omitted, in which case the ink. will be delivered directly from the ink-distributing cylinder tothe fermrollers. This modification being obvious, it is not illustrated.

That I c laim is- IIO l. In a printing-press, the combination of a j con tinuously-rotating plate or form cylinder, au impression-cylinder which rotates to print the sheets'and stops to receive the sheets, a

second and continuously-rotatingimpressioncylinder, a second plate-cylinder cooperating t 2. In a printing-press, the combination of a Y.

continuously-rotating plate or form cylinder, an impression-cylinder, means for rotating the impression-cylinder intermittently so that it shall stop once in each revolution of the plate-cylinder, and means including a con- Stantly-rotatingr impression-cylinder for producing a second impression upon the same side of the sheet as that printed by the beforementioned mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press, the combination of an impression-cylinder, form-carrying means coperating therewith, means for rotating the impression-cylinder intermittently so that it shall stop once in'each printing movement of the form-carrying means, a second and continuously-rotating impression-cylinder, and form-carrying means cooperating therewith, both impression-cylinders and their coperating form-carrying means operating to print on the same side of the sheet snbstantialiy as described. v

4. In a printing-press, the combination of a continuously-rotating plate or form cylinder, an impression-cylinder, means for rotating the impression-cylinderintermittently so that it shall stop once in each revolution of the plate-cylinder, a second and continuously-rotating impression-cylinder, a secondplatecylinder cooperating therewith, and means for transferring the printed sheet from the first impression-cylinder to the second impression-cylinder with the printed side ont.

5. In a printing-press, the combination of a continuously-rotating plate or form cylinder, an impression-cylinder, means for rotating the im pression-cylinder intermittently so that it shall stop once in each revolution of the plate-cylinder, means for giving the impression-cylinder a graduated rotary motion from its positionof rest to even motion with the plate-cylinder, and again from even motion with the plate-cylinder to a position of rest, a second and continuously-rotating impression-cylinder, a second plate-cylinder cop` erating therewith, and means for transferringV the printed sheet from the first impressioncylinder to the second impression-cylinder `with the printed side ont, substantiall y as described.

G. In a printing-press, the combination of a contin-uonsly-rotating plate or form cylinder, an impression-cylinder, means for rotating the im pression-cylinder intermittently so that it shallstop once in each revolution of the plate-cylinder, segmental gearing for connecting the two cylinders while the printing operation is in progress, means for communieating a graduated rotary motion to the impression-cylinder between its position of rest and its position when geared to the platecylinder, a second and continuously-rotating impression-cylinder, a second plate-cylinder cooperating therewith, and means for transferring the printed sheet from the tirst impression-cylinder to the second impressioncylinder with the printed side ont, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-press,the combination with an impression-cylinder, a plate or form cylinder, means for connecting the two cylinders so that the former cylinder shall receive motion from the latter during a portiononly of v each revolution of the plate-cylinder, a secprinted sheet from the first impression-cylinder to the second im pression-cylinder with the printed side ont, substantially as described.

8. In aprinting-press,.the combination with an impression-cylinder, a plate or form cylinder, means for connecting the twocylinders so that the former cylinder shall receive motion from the latter during a portion only of each revolution of the plate-cylinder, means for graduating the motion transmitted to the impression-cylinder so that the same shall gradually increase from a position of rest to equality with the plate-cylinder, and shall gradually decrease from said equality to a position of rest, a second and continuously-rotating impression-cylinder, a second platecylinder coperating therewith, and means for transferring the printed sheets from the first impression-cylinder to the second impression-cylinder with the printed side out, substantially as described.

9. In a printing-press, the oombinationpof a continuously-rotating plateor form cylinder, an impression-cylinder, means for rotating the impression-cylinder intermittently so that it shall stop once in each revolution Aof the plate-cylinder, a second and con tinuonsly-rotating impression-cylinder, a second platecylinder cooperating therewith,- means for transferring the printed lsheet'from the first impression-cylinder to the second impressioncylinder with the printed side out, and means for lifting the journal-boxes of the continuously-rotating impression-cylinder during a portion of each revolution of the second plate-V vand means for transferring a sheet printed side out from the iirst printing-couple to the `second printing-couple, substantially as described.

l1. The combination with a printing-couple havinga rotating member, the couple acting to print a sheet on one side, of a second printing-couple consisting of two continuously-ro- 1 rating cylinders, means forvarying the rotation of the impression-cylinder of the firstV couple in order that a sheet may be fed thereto, and means for transferring a sheet from loo IIO

the rst to the second couple with its printed side out, substantially as described.

l2. The combination with a printing-couple having an impression-cylinder, of a second printing-couple consisting of two continuously-rotating cylinders, means for varying the rotation of the impression-cylinder of. the first couple in order that a sheet may be fed thereto, and kmeans for transferring a sheet from the first to the second couple with its printed side out, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a printing-couple consisting of an impression-Cylinder and a continuously-rotating form-cylinder, of a second printing-couple having a continuouslyrotating impression-cylinder, means for varying the rotation of the impression-cylinder of the rst couple in order that a sheet may be xo fed thereto, and means for transferring a sheet from the iirst to the Second couple with its printed side out, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M. NORTH.

- Witnesses:

G. M. BoRsT, T. F. KEHOE. 

